WASHINGTON, D.C. – Four new cases of the Zika virus were reported in Florida yesterday: three in Alachua and one in Brevard. To help curb the spread of the virus, late last night the Senate approved a measure to speed up the development of vaccines and treatments for the disease.
The legislation, introduced by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and others, would add the Zika virus to the Food and Drug Administration’s Tropical Disease Priority Review Voucher Program.
When a company develops an FDA-approved treatment for one of the diseases on the priority list, it receives a voucher to fast-track the approval process for another drug of its choice.
Adding the Zika virus to FDA’s priority list creates an incentive for drug makers to accelerate their search for a cure.
Once awarded, a fast-track voucher can either be used to cut the time it takes the FDA to approve another drug that the company has developed from 10 months to 6, or be sold to another drug maker. In 2014, a fast-track voucher reportedly sold for $
The legislation passed late yesterday in the Senate now heads to the House for consideration.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Senate approves bill to speed up search for Zika virus cure